Ocean Network Express and Wan Hai Lines will launch a revamped service from Asia to the U.S. West Coast as import volumes continue to grow, ONE said Thursday.
Wan Hai Lines described the AP1 as a “revamp” of the existing AA3 service and will be jointly operated with ONE. Together, the carriers expects to use seven vessels at a nominal capacity of 13,000 TEUs. Wan Hai Lines will deploy five vessels, while ONE will operate two vessels.
The AP1 service will have direct routes from Taipei in Taiwan and Shekou, part of Shenzhen, China, to the U.S. West Coast, ONE said. “The return leg of this service boasts a rapid transit from the U.S. West Coast back to Vietnam, with an expected transit time of 19 days to Haiphong and 22 days to Cai Mep.”
The service is expected to start in late spring, around April or May, and is subject to applicable regulatory clearance.
Expanding West Coast services comes as shippers are rerouting cargo due to continued Red Sea disruptions and drought restrictions at the Panama Canal. Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said during a media briefing Wednesday that as he’s traveled overseas, shippers have told him they're starting to reroute cargo over to the West Coast to avoid these hotspots.
For the past few months, loaded imports have grown in West Coast ports. In January, loaded imports at the Port of Los Angeles were up 18% year over year and 24% YoY at the Port of Long Beach.
